Marine Le Pen’s appeal against embezzlement conviction begins

Paris trial’s outcome will determine whether leader of far-right National Rally can run for French presidency in 2027

The French far-right leader Marine Le Pen appeared in court on Tuesday at the start of a fresh trial on appeal over the embezzlement of European parliament funds in a case that will determine whether or not she can run in the 2027 presidential election.

Le Pen, 57, who leads the far-right, anti-immigration National Rally (RN), was considered to be a contender for next year’s election until she was barred from running for public office last March after being found guilty of an extensive and long-running fake jobs scam.